A fine performance at Perth Concert Hall

Wood stoves ban

What finer hour could you have than listening to the sound of four guitars playing pleasant, interesting music?

This was what a reasonably sized audience had with the Malamatina Guitar Quartet in Perth Concert hall’s most recent Lunchtime Concert.

They began with one of the two known pieces: Boccherini’s Introduction and Fandango.

Originall for single guitar and string quartet it transferred wonderfully well with a sensitive, nuanced introduction leading to the fire and wittily presented repartee of the dance itself.

Then four largely new pieces: Clive Carroll’s

The Lost City of Dunwich – moodily atmospheric then intense with eerie harmonies as the city is eaten away by sea erosion.

A resonant arrangement with warm harmonies of the song Black is the Colour by Bryan Johnson.

The Japan print inspired Infinitive Wave of Marco Galvani the group’s first commission.

Here the gentle susurration gained in definition. Australian

Philip Houghton uses his synesthesia where colours suggest sounds in Opals: Black Opal beginning with a dead thunk on the body of the guitar developing to rhythmically lively.

Water Opal with drumming, also on the neck of the guitar, and isolated gestures developed.

Finally White Opal with a running ostinato and ghosts of sounds.

Finally, and emotionally, a felt performance of Peter Maxwell Davies Farewell to Stromness.

Its strong passacaglia form impressing around a quicker centre.

These were excellent performances sonically beautifully presented.

Another hit for James Waters as Creative Director for Classical Music.

New building standards which came into force in Scotland on April 1 banned bioenergy heating systems including wood-burning stoves.

The ban on wood-burning stoves in new-built homes will adversely impact on rural areas.

However one of the far too numerous Scottish Government spin doctors said: “There is no ban on wood-burning stoves and they can still be installed in new homes to provide emergency heating where required.”

Confused? So are we going to have an army of inspectors going around to make sure that people do not use woodburning stoves for heating and cooking when there is no emergency?

Yet another Snp/green stupid and unworkable idea to add to the ever growing list.

Clark Cross